February 27, 2023
News
Denise is a young student from Italy who spent 4 months through the Erasmus+ program working at the Humanitarian Aid and International Development Department of Caritas Czech Republic. She helped with the communication and marketing as well as administration. Learn more about Denise's impressions and thoughts on her first real work experience in an NGO.
You are currently doing your Bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Is that what brought you to the internship with an NGO in the field of humanitarian aid and development cooperation?
Yes, I will actually be graduating soon with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of Trento in Italy. I’ve always been fascinated by global affairs, diplomacy, and learning about the politics and foreign relations of different countries. That is why I decided to study Politics and International Relations and also how I found my way to an internship at an NGO. I think there is no better place to start. I wanted to gain hands-on experience in my field of study and learn how the system works.
Why did you choose to do your internship at Caritas Czech Republic, namely in its international department?
I first applied for an Erasmus in Prague at the Charles University, because it was the best option among the universities in Central and Eastern Europe and also because I am interested in the region. I believed that being in the region would give me the possibility to see everything firsthand. I spent six months studying in Prague before looking for an internship. My friend, who was already working full-time for Caritas Czech Republic, told me about an open internship position. Soon after, we had an interview, which went well, and I became an intern here.
Have you ever volunteered before joining Caritas Czech Republic?
Yes, last year I volunteered at Záchranná stanice Lesy Praha in Prague, which is a rescue station for wild animals. In the future, I would also like to take part in one of the projects offered by the European Solidarity Corps. I believe that volunteering is a great activity, as it impacts both those you are helping and yourself.
How exactly did you spend your time at Caritas Czech Republic? What was the main focus of your internship?
My internship lasted four months, and I did a variety of things during that time. I did some writing. I prepared campaign analyses, reports, and content for the website, along with some administrative tasks. I also participated in a study visit with representatives of Mongolian non-governmental organisations that Caritas Czech Republic cooperates with in Mongolia. They came to the Czech Republic to get inspiration from local organisations on how to work with young people. So we visited various non-governmental organisations in the Czech Republic. I also attended a couple of conferences with my team.
You did your internship in the PR team of the Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation Department. Did you already know how to do all the things the team deals with, or was it your first experience in the field of PR and communications?
I was a bit scared at the beginning because I didn’t know anything. Of course, the first week was a bit challenging in the sense that you found yourself in a new environment. Even though I didn't have any experience, I quickly learned what to do.
What do you most appreciate from what you have learnt?
I learned how the NGO works from the inside. A lot of people today do not know NGOs are funded, for example, and this leads to misconceptions. Working, for example, on the “Meaningful gift“, which is a Christmas campaign where you can buy gifts while also supporting people in need, you can clearly see where the money goes; everything is meticulously and transparently recorded. I also gained technical skills in areas of PR work such as website management and social media.
How did you enjoy working at Caritas Czech Republic, did it influence you in any way?
I loved it. Everyone on the team was very supportive. They gave me the opportunity of exploring things on my own. Of course, I had a lot of responsibility, but I also had some freedom to do things my way. I appreciate the trust that they had in me. I felt encouraged.
I also grew in the sense of learning new things and doing things my way with some guidance. The fact that people believed that I would complete my task successfully and do a good job was amazing. It was a rewarding experience.
It sounds like you would recommend doing an internship at Caritas Czech Republic.
Definitely. It is an opportunity to learn new things while studying. You learn what you like and don't like.
Was there anything that surprised you while working in the nonprofit sector?
What surprised me the most was the friendly environment, meaning that everyone is always ready to help and support you. I enjoyed the eagerness to work as a team to achieve better things.
Then I became aware of the EU's and local and regional governments' insufficient funding. For the work NGOs do, there should be more institutional funding in order to develop new projects and help more and more people.
Caritas Czech Republic is supporting people in need in several countries. Is there any of them that you would like to visit and why?
I would like to visit Moldova and Georgia because I am interested in post-Soviet countries, but also because Caritas Czech Republic provides a different kind of help there than in other countries. In these countries, the aid of Caritas Czech Republic focuses on improving the health care system, promoting health education, and developing environmentally friendly practices and infrastructure.
What are your plans now?
I will be graduating soon and then I plan to apply for a Master's degree. I want to get a small job and start volunteering in Italy.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I would like to encourage people to say yes to everything; it's easy to see yourself as not good enough. Just face your fears and be open, but don't overload yourself with work. Before starting my internship at Caritas Czech Republic, I was worried that I would not be good enough because I didn't have any experience, but in the end it was great, and now I feel proud and accomplished.
Thank you for the interview.
